Tim Pawlenty

Thursday's Republican presidential debate in Ames, Iowa featured at least a few testy exchanges. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum sparred over the Iranian threat. Newt Gingrich slapped Fox News moderator Chris Wallace for asking about departures of his campaign staff. And Tim Pawlenty jabbed at Mitt Romney for owning more than one acre of land.

George W. Bush pollster Jan van Lohuizen considers some of the Republican candidates who are running (or considering a run) for president. What's particularly interesting are the liabilities that van Lohuizen notices.

In a speech on the Middle East at the Council on Foreign Relations this morning, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty strongly criticized President Obama's "murky policy" of "engagement." But he also took aim at unnamed "parts of the Republican Party" that "now seem to be trying to out-bid the Democrats in appealing to isolationist sentiments."

And tweaks Mitt Romney.

Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty warned against "the drift of the Republican Party toward what appears to be a retreat or a move more towards isolationism," according to an articlein Politico. Pawlenty also had criticism for President Obama, who's expected to announce a drawdown from Afghanistan.

Tim Pawlenty went on Sean Hannity's TV show last night to express his regrets for not criticizing Romneycare at Monday night's debate:

"I think in response to that direct question, I should have been much more clear during the debate," Pawlenty said. "I don’t think we can have a nominee that was involved in the development and construction of ObamaCare and then continues to defend it."

On Sunday, Tim Pawlenty called Massachusetts health care law signed by Mitt Romney "Obamneycare." "We now have essentially the same features" in Romneycare and Obamacare, Pawlenty said on Fox News Sunday.